Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-10-21
COAL MINERS WAGES.
The sliding Scale System Of Profit
sharing - Applied In Pennsylvania.


The wages question is always one
of absorbing interest to those who
receive and to those who give; to the
FIRST because it is their means of liv-
ing, and to the second because the
price of the products of labor de-
ponds, in u great measure, OH the rate
Of wages paid. Looking over his
tory it would seem that there is u
constant, never-ending strife between
the employers and the wage receivers,
u strife marked by frequent "strikes,"
''lockouts," and, happily, in recent
years, by arbitrstions also. Various
plans have been proposed by which
tn. constant war between these two
classes may be avoided and by which
the lsborer may participate, rs it is
eminentiy just no should do, with the
employer i'll the benefits Of higher
prices for the products of labor. We
propose to trace here the history Of
the efforts which have been made in
Pennsylvania to effect this desirable
end, under what is commonly known
as the Basis or Sliding Scale System
Of wages. In this certain rate of
wages is agreed upon as fair when
coal sells for a given price per ton.
These wages and prices of coal being
styled the "basis." As the selling
price of coal goes up or down from
this basis, the rate of wages goes
up or down with it, in q predeter-
mined ratio. There is, however, a
minimum and maximum point be-
low or above which the rate Of wages
is not allowed to 70, whatever may
ne the price Of coal.
The following information regard
ing this very interesting and impor-
tant subject has been compiled from
official and reliable sources in all
cases, and it places upon record one
Of the most important phases of the
labor question, and will serve as a
hook of reference in future where
this subject may come up for dis
cussion.
The question Of what rate should
he adopted as the basis from which
prices and wages are TO be calculated
will necessarily be one for special
consideration in each case. 1t is y
purely arbitrary figure and Is of fa,
ess Importance than the proportion
in which wages are to rise or fall with
the varying market prices OF coal. i,
is clear that the basis in wages will
depend on the cost of living, and the
current rates Of wages not paid under
this system, so that what may be .
perfectly fair basis at one time may
he q very unjust one under different
conditions. The basis itself is there.
fore subject to change; but it never
theless offers n just plan by which
TIE interests Of the laborer and his
employer become in a measure ,denti.
cal, and its adoption has certainly
prevented some, though unfortunate
" rot all, strikes in the Pennsylvania
anthracite fel.s.
SLIDING SCALE SYSTEM OF WAGES.
The Anthracite Board of Trade of
the Schuylklli Coal Region, consist
ing of representatives from vario, .
associations of coal operators, was
formed on November 18th, 1869, wi h
Mr.. William k-ndrick as Pr-sidel t.
On the part of the workingmen, L..
CARNATIONS had already been effect, d
under the general title of the Miners
and Laborers' Benevolent Association.
These were divided into districts,
s-ncing representatives to the execu
tive committee, the head of the coui .
y organization.
In January, 1869, the prices of coal
AS measured by the auction sales of
cranton coal averaged IS II per ton
(. o. b. Hoboken. A figure which
after the experience of war prices
appeared low. There was much de-
preston on the market and the Feb
ruary sale, which averaged only S4.36
per ton, brought CONSERVATION I, the
miners, who clearly foresaw a re.
duction Of wages impending. The
April sale averaged but $4.79 per ton,
and it was then decided that some
thing must be done to bring up prices.
consequently on April goth, 1869,
Mr.. John S,ney, as President of the
NJ. & L. b. A. for Schuylkill county,
ordered general suspension of all
work except rock work, timbering and
repairing, to take effect May 10th.
On June 4, 1869, the Executive
Committee Of the coal associations OF
the Schuylk,li region submitted the
following propositions for establishing
wages to the men:
~. Prices of labor to be regulated
by prices of coal, taking the average
of all sizes at Port Carbon; the per.
centage to be regarded in making the
average to be: larger sizes, Is pei
cent; chestnut, III per cent; and
pea, l24 per cent.
80. When the average price Of coal
is So per ton at Port Carbon, outsid.
labor to he Gil per week; platform
men, Gil so per week; inside labor
$l2 per week; and miners, Ella Pc,
week. clear Of coats